The Midwest MidBEST Crankie Fest, held at The Shoe Tree Listening Room inside Arrow Creative Reuse, features over 20 crankies, including the work of local artist Abbey Waterworth. Waterworth, a musician and artist, was inspired by the Bald Knobbers, a group from Ozarks history, to create her crankie.
What is a Crankie?
A crankie is a moving panorama, originating in 18th-century Europe, which tells a story through illustrated scrolls. The scrolls are wound around spools and hand-cranked to reveal the story, often accompanied by music or narration.
Waterworth’s crankie, ‘The Ballad of the Bald Knobbers,’ is based on a satirical folk song from the 1880s. She wrote an original song to accompany her crankie, which will be performed with Jeheil Hoffman on guitar.
Festival Details
The festival runs from June 25-28 and features various events, including a concert, workshops, and Crankie Artists Showcases. The festival concludes with a Crankie Gospel Hour, featuring biblically inspired new work in crankie form, accompanied by a local bluegrass collective.
Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.
